Device for disconnecting high-powered electric arcs



E. LANGE Sept. 30, 1958 DEVICE FOR DISCONNECTING HIGH-POWERED ELECTRIC ARCS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 17, 1955 Pic-21.1.

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United States Patent DEVICE FOR DISCONNECTING HIGH-POWERED ELECTRIC ARCS Emil Lange, Ville dAvray, France Application June 17, 1955, Serial No. 516,272 Claims priority, application France June 18, 1954 9 Claims. (Cl. 200-146) The purpose of the invention is to provide a device for disconnecting high-powered electric arcs, which ensures, by a simple construction, an effective extinguishing of the electric arc.

The device consists of two disconnecting points mounted in parallel, or at one side of each other, of which the first is closed and the electric arc for producing pressure is drawn at that point, whereas the second disconnecting point is continually open, then, the axis of the are produced at the first disconnecting point is displaced by the contacts provided in the extinction compartment and belonging to the second disconnecting point, so that the arc continues to burn at the second disconnecting point, where it is extinguished.

The legs of the are burning in the extinction compartment are forced, by elevated contacts, provided in that compartment, to jump on these contacts, which has the effect of displacing the aXis of the arc in the extinction compartment. In this case, the legs of the arc, originally burning in the extinction compartment, burn in an insulating part; they have no fixed seating and the electric arc consequently jumps without pausing on the elevated contacts. Owing to the displacement of its axis, the arc comes Within the reach of an extended contact, it is shunted or diverted by that contact and its length is thus shortened by a given extent.

The electric are burning between the elevated contacts and the shunt contacts is thrust by the extinguishing fluid under pressure which emerges and by the shape of the contacts against the second disconnecting point, where its extinction takes place.

The disconnecting points may be formed by two or more open extinction points and comprising corresponding contacts for the diverted arc. The first disconnecting point comprises a fixed contact and a fuse or mobile contact, then the arc drawn to produce the pressure by the mobile contact jumps after a given time interval approximately 0.0015 second, on to the second open disconnecting point, continues to burn on this second point for approximately 0.005 second, and is then extinguished. The contacts of the second open disconnecting point comprise an apertured or hollow contact and a second or shunt contact which are placed at one side of the axis of the are. One end of the second contact is positioned in front of the aperture of the first contact, and the other end is placed in the extinction compartment close to the mobile contact of the first disconnecting point. The end of the shunt contact turned towards the mobile contact is spaced from the mobile contact by agiven distance. A shrinking pathway, situated between the shunt contact and the hollow contact, is thus provided for the rapid displacement of the arc.

Forms of embodiment of the purpose of the invention are shown, by way of non-restrictive examples, in the attached drawings.

In the apparatuses according to Figs. 1 to 3, the are producing pressure is drawn across a fusible wire .and,

Patented Sept. 30, 1958 ICC in the devices according to Figs. 4 to 6, the arc is drawn by a mobile switching pin.

In Fig. 1, the extinction compartment 1 is closed by two caps 2 and 3 which are connected to the conductors 4 and 5. The fusible wire 6 is connected up by the screws 7 and 8 to connecting contacts and is introduced into the compartment 1 through the insulating parts 9, 10.

An extended displaced or shunt contact 11 is placed in the compartment 1 and secured by the screw 12. The contact 11 is close to the fusible wire, but outside its axis. The contact 11 is formed at one end with a protruding contact piece 13 acting as a seat for the leg of the arc, and placed in front of the opening 14 in contact 2. The contact 11 is more or less removed from the cap 3 on the opposite side. Elevated contacts 15, 16 are provided at the side of the insulated inductions 9, 10; these contacts are placed near to the opening of the exit 14 at a well-defined distance from the contacts 11, 13.

The device operates as follows:

When the fusible wire 6 fuzes, the arc is set up along wire 6 between the conductors 4, 5 and the caps 2, 3 over the whole length of the extinction compartment and produces a rise in pressure'in that compartment. The are is compelled by the insulating parts 9, 10 to seek for a landing point immediately in the extinction compartment 1 and it finds that point in the elevated contacts 15, 16 on to which it jumps immediately.

By jumping on to the contacts 15, 16, the arc establishes itself in another axis and owing to this fact comes within the reach of the shunt contact 11. The length of the arc is shortened by the contact 11 which occupies a considerable portion of the length of the extinction compartment 1. Now, the arc only burns between the contacts 15, 11 and 11, 16. Thus, the are only burns during a very short time to produce pressure throughout its length in the extinction compartment 1.

This production of pressure gives rise to venting of extinguishing fluid which is in the extinction compartment 1, through the opening 14, and the arc burning between the contacts 15, 11 is thrust by the venting blast on to the contact 13. The are now burns, therefore, between the contacts 13, 14 where it is extinguished by the fluid adding an aperture or open extinction point on the other cap 3.

Figure 2 shows an arrangement comprising two open extinction points and two shunt or supplementary displaced contacts provided in the extinction compartment.

The pressure compartment 20 is closed by the caps 21, 22. The contacts 23, 24 acting for diverting or shunting the are are arranged in the extinction compartment 20. The fusible wire 25 is connected to the caps 21, 22 by the screws 26, 27 and is introduced into compartment 20 by the insulating parts 28, 29. The contacts 30, 31 are elevated with regard to the caps and act as leg points for the arc. The contacts 30, 31 are placed at a well-defined distance from the axis of the fusible wire. The contacts 23, 24 are made, looking towards the caps 21, 22, in the shape of appendices 32, 33 placed in front of the openings 34, 35 which act as hollow contacts. The contacts 30, 31 are thus placed between the two disconnecting points at the axes of parts 28, 29, and the openings 34, 35. The device operates as follows: When the fusible wire 25 fuses, an arc is formed which burns over its entire length in the extinction compartment 20, and which produces a rise in pressure. Seeing that the arc burns when it is introduced into the extinction compartment in the insulating parts 28, 29, and that'it has no fixed base point, it is compelled to seek for one. The contact 30 or 31 which is elevated with regard to the caps affords this base point to the arc and the latter immediately jumps on to the contacts 30, 31. The axis ofthe arc existing between the insulating parts 28, 29 is thus displacedand r is now'between the contacts 30 and 31. The are has now come within the reach ofthe shunt contacts 23, 24 and is shunted onto parts of these as'determined by the shortest paths. The arc now only continues to burn on the partial small lengths provided between the contacts 30, 2323, 24-24, 31. The extinguishing fluid under pressure that emerges, whose volume is determined by the are burning first of all over a long distance, thrusts this are on to the portions 32, 33. The are now burns in the openings of the exits 34, 35 where it isextinguished with the greatest safety by the extinguishing fluid under pressure that emerges. The arc, burning between the contacts 23, 24 provided in the compartment, produces an increaseof additional pressure for the extinguishing operation.

To facilitate the extinguishing process and reduce the energy of the arc, a resistance may be interposed or some other device inserted limiting the current between the shunt contacts 23, 24. The insulating parts 28, 29 can be advantageously manufactured of a material giving off gases that favorably influence theextinguishing process.

Fig. 3 describes a similar arrangement but in which four open extinction points are provided.

The extinction compartment 49 is closed by the caps 41, 42 and the fusible wire 43 is soldered on to the latter. The fusible wire 43 is introduced into the extinction compartment 40 through the insulating parts 44, 45 alongside which are the contacts 46, 47 to receive the diverted are as base points.

The lengthened contacts48, 49 provided for diverting the arc, are in the extinction compartment 40. These contacts 48, 49 are formed wits protrusions in theshape of rod or circular contact portions 50, 52 and v53, 51 which are opposite the exit openings 54, 57 and 56, 55 which are hollow contacts.

The open extinction points 50, 5452, 5753, 56-51, 55 .are then formed. The hollow contacts 56, 57 are connected electrically either directly or through a resistance. The outputs of the openings are advantageous- Iyseparated by an insulating partition 58.

The device operates as follows:

When the fusible wire 43 fuzes, an arc is formed which burns over the entire length of the extinction compartment 40 between the insulating parts 44, 45 and which produces an increase in pressure. The are burning in the extinction .compartment not having a fixed leg point immediately finds a seating in the elevated contacts 46, 47. The axis of the arc is thus displaced and comes within the reach of the shunt contacts 48, 49 by which it is partly diverted and continues to burn on partial lengths provided between the contacts 46, 48-48, 49 and 49, 47. The extinguishing fluid which emerges under pressure and the shape of the contacts 48, 49 have the effect of thrusting the are as quickly as possible on to the contacts 50, 52, 53 and 51. The are now burns in the openings 54, 57, 56 and 55. The extinguishing fluid that emerges under pressure produces a very easy extinction of the are divided int-o four parts.

'In the three forms of embodiment described by way of examples, a gas of any kind, a hard gas or liquid, etc., may be used as an extinguishing fluid. The openings of the exits may-beclosed by a valve to control the extinguishing .fiuid that emerges.

Instead of the fusible wire, a mobile switching contact may be inserted, and this contact could be controlled mechanically.

InFig. 4, 60 designates an extinguishing compartment in which a fixedcontact 61 and a mobile contact 62 are provided. A hollow contact 63 is electrically connected to the fixed contact 61, while a projecting base contact 64 that acts as a seat for the are attracted from the contact 61. The extinguishing compartment also contains the diverting contact 65, which is placed with one of its ends acting as a pin contact 66 in front of the hollow contact 63. The other end 67 of contact 65 receives the burning are at the mobile pin contact 62. The discharging point 67 is appreciably removed from the fixed contact 61, in the extinguishing compartment, to attract a well-defined arc length in that compartment.

The device operates in the following manner:

When the contacts 61 and 62 are separated, an arc jumps which is attracted by the mobile contact 62 in the extinguishing compartment 60 and which thus produces an increased pressure in that compartment. The arc burning between the contacts 61 and 62 tends to burn on the shortest length possible and thus goes on to the projecting leg contact 66; the axis of the arc is therefore turned towards the hollow contact 63. During the continuation of the movement of the pin contact 62, the arc burns in the direction of the axis of contact 65, and when the arc has reached a given length and produced a certain pressure, the are burning on the pin contact 62 jumps on to the contact 65.

The extinguishing fluid under pressure to emerge, and the gradually shrinking shape of the contact 65 toward end contactportion 66, have the effect of very rapidly driving the arc onto the circular contact portion 66 to burn between the hollow contact 62 and the circular contact 66. Moreover, another are still burns between the pin contact 62 which continues to move and the contact portion 67, this other arc continuing to produce pressure in the extinguishing compartment.

The extinguishing fluid under pressure emerging in the hollow contact 63 extinguishes the arc withsafety and great ease.

To maintain a rational pressure in the extinguishing compartment and to control the extinguishing fluid that emerges, it is very advantageous to close the output opening of the hollow contact 63 by means of a valve.

Gases of all kinds, a hard gas or a liquid, can be stored in the extinguishing compartment as an extinguishing fluid.

According to Fig. 5, there is a fixed contact 69 and a mobile pin contact 70 in the extinguishing compartment 68. These two contacts represent the first disconnecting point. The second disconnecting point is represented by the hollow contact 71 and the contact 72 with a rounded part 73. The fixed contact 69 and the contact 72, having rounded part 73 are electrically connected to the conductor 74. The pin contact 70 is electrically connected bythe friction contacts 75 andthe hollow contact 71 to the conductor 76.

The device operates as follows:

When the switch is opened, the mobile pin contact 70 is lowered and an arc burns between the contacts 69 and 70; this are is attracted into the extinguishing compartment 68 and a rise in pressure occurs.When the point of the pin contact comes into the vicinity of the contact 72, the arc jumps on to the latter. The arc now burns between the pin contact 70 and the contact 72. The leg of the are originally on the fixed contact 69 has been consequently transferred on to the contact 72. During the continuation of the movement of the pin contact 70, its point comes into the vicinity of the contact portion .7 8 projecting inwardly from the hollow contact 71.

Since the hollow contact 71 is connected to the conductor 76, the arc jumps from the point of the pin contact Ztl on to the contact 78, so that the are now burns between the contacts 72 and 78. The extinguishing fluid under pressure that emerges, as well as the shape of the contacts 72 and 78 cause the arc to be driven onto the round contact adjacent the hollow contact 71 where it is extinguished by the fluid under pressure which emerges at that spot. Seeing that the attracted arc has only heated the top part of the fluid contained in the extinguishing compartment, the extinction of the arc occurs in the lower part of that compartment, under the most favorable conditions.

It is also advantageous to provide the output opening 71 with a valve.

Any kind of gaseous extinguishing fluid or liquid can be used.

In Fig. 6, two disconnecting points have been provided in the extinguishing compartment 79 for attracting the arc and producing a rise in pressure in the compartment; these two disconnecting points are formed by the fixed contacts 80, 81 and the mobile pin contacts 82, 83; the pin contacts 82, 83 are electrically connected and are displaced by a control 84. The fixed contacts 80, 81 are connected to the conductors 85, 86 and the hollow contacts 87, 88 are respectively mounted in those connections.

The disconnecting points formed by the contacts 80, 82 and 81, 83 for attracting the arcs producing pressure are surrounded by insulating compartments 89, 90, forming screens, so as to prevent a premature discharge of the arcs.

The ends of the compartments 89, 90 are provided with diverting contacts 91, 92 which lead the arc to the hollow contacts 87, 88. Moreover, the contacts 93, 94 are also arranged in the extinguishing compartment 79 having rounded end contact portions 95, 96 in front of the hollow contacts 87, 88.

The device operates as follows:

When the contacts 80, 82 and 81, 83 are separated, two arcs are attracted by the pin contacts 82, 83 into the extinguishing compartment 79 and an increase in pressure occurs there. The compartment forming screens 89, 90 retain the hot gases surrounding the arcs inside the extinguishing compartment 79. When the pin contacts 82, 83 emerge from the compartments formed by screens 89, 90, the arcs burning on the points jump on to the contacts 91, 92 and during the continuation of movement on to the contacts 93, 94.

The arcs now burn between the contacts 92, 94, 83 and 82, 93, 91. The extinguishing fluid under pressure which emerges thrusts the arcs at high speed toward the hollow contacts 87, 88 and contact portions 95, 96; the arcs continue to burn between the pin contact portions 82, 83 and the contacts 93, 94 while producing a supplementary rise in pressure.

The arcs burning between the contacts 95, 87 and 96, 88 are in the most eflicient current of the extinguishing fluid and are extinguished there. Here also, the output openings are advantageously provided with valves for controlling the extinguishing fluid which emerges and for accumulating the extinguishing fluid under pressure in the extinguishing compartment. A gaseous fluid or liquid can be used as an extinguishing fluid.

The operations for extinguishing the arc described in the preceding embodiments show that the arc is controlled solely by electrical means without any help from mechanical members.

I claim:

1. An electric circuit breaker comprising, a closed arc extinguishing chamber having a pair of oppositely disposed, spaced walls, means for establishing an arc along a line across the chamber between points on said pair of walls, at least one venting contact having an aperture positioned at one side of said are line to vent said chamber for an arc extinguishing blast generated by the arc, and at least one additional contact so formed and placed within the chamber at one side of said are line as to turn aside and receive the arc between itself and said venting contact, divide the are into separate parts, and direct one part of the arc toward said aperture in the path of the generated arc extinguishing blast.

2. A circuit breaker according to claim 1 wherein said venting contact has a portion adjacent said aperture which protrudes into said chamber and said additional contact has a portion extending toward said aperture whereby the arc therebetween is drawn toward the aperture.

3. A circuit breaker according to claim 2 wherein said additional contact has a surface inclined from the line of said arc toward said aperture.

4. A circuit breaker according to claim 1 wherein said means for establishing an arc comprises a fuse.

5. A circuit breaker according to claim 1 wherein said means for establishing an arc comprises a movable contact.

'6. An electric circuit breaker for high power circuits comprising, a closed arc extinguishing chamber having a pair of oppositely disposed, spaced walls, means for establishing an are along an axis across the chamber between points on said pair of walls, a pair of venting contacts each positioned at one side of said are axis and having an aperture to vent said chamber for an arc extinguishing blast generated by the arc, and a plurality of additional contacts within the chamber spaced from each other and at one side of said axis, said additional contacts being shaped to create another are path between said venting contacts and including said additional contacts, whereby the original are is diverted to said second path, broken into separate arcs between said additional contacts and between the venting contacts and said additional contacts, and portions of the separate arcs are directed toward said apertures in the paths of the generated arc extinguishing blast.

7. A circuit breaker according to claim 6 wherein each of said venting contacts has a protrusion, said arc establishing means comprising a fuse disposed along the axis of the arc to be generated, and insulating elements surrounding said fuse at said pair of walls to cause the arc to jump laterally to said protrusions.

8. A circuit breaker according to claim 6 comprising another venting contact on another wall of the said chamber and having apertures therein which vent said other wall, and said other venting contact being positioned intermediate said additional contacts within the chamber for establishing separate arcs therebetween, directed toward the apertures in said other wall.

9. An electric circuit breaker comprising, a closed arc extinguishing chamber, means for establishing an are along an axis in said chamber, and means for laterally displacing the arc, breaking the arc into shorter segments, reducing the segments into shorter lengths and extinguishing the segments, said latter means including at least one apertured contact in a wall of the chamber displaced from said arc axis for venting an arc extinguishing blast, generated by the are, from said chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,955,216 Whitney et al. Apr. 17, 1934 2,281,385 Saint-Germain et al. Apr. 28, 1942 2,452,477 Leeds Oct. 26, 1948 2,504,901 Strom et al. Apr. 18, 1950 2,545,334 Balentine Mar. 13, 1951 2,644,877 Guillaume July 7, 1953 2,650,972 Kuwayama Sept. 1, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 741,136 France Dec. 2, 1932 572,518 Germany Mar. 17, 1933 725,073 Germany Sept. 12, 1942 

